Into the Outdoors: Dog Days of Summer
- Editor
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
By the time you read this, we’ll be well into August. I know I say this a lot, but it’s really hard to believe how fast time flies, but it indeed does. It’s only about three weeks to Labor Day. LABOR DAY! That’s the unofficial end of summer. Wow!
We are officially into the “dog days” of summer. There is some very wild folklore about this time of the year. Let’s look at some.
As far as I can find out, the term dog days comes from the belief that dogs have a greater tendency to go mad at this time. There is actually more than one type of canine madness. Of course, there is rabies. I have also heard of distemper madness. Regardless, they are not more prevalent this time of year, but it makes for good fireside conversations.
On the darker side, this was also polio season, before the vaccine was developed. Case after case would be reported on television, radio and newspapers. Daily total cases were reported. Many people, including my mother, thought that flies were a primary spreader of the disease. Others believed that the foam which forms on creeks were a contributing factor. Our parents kept us in the house. It was a real damper on outdoor fun. These beliefs were not born out of stupidity or ignorance, but out of terror. The relief that spread over the country with the announcement of the Salk vaccine was almost palpable. As little kids, most of us didn’t even cry when we got the shot. We thought the pain was worth it.
The sounds of nature are changing, too. We now hear cicadas, some of which hatch every year. Insect sounds, especially at night, are taking on a different tone. Listen closely, and you will notice. It must be sort of a swan song.
Now for a ridiculous tidbit. An old false belief among some anglers is that members of the pike family lose their teeth in August, and will not eat until they grow new ones. I know from experience that is a load of manure. I have caught pike in August. They had plenty of teeth! Don’t try to lip land them.
The weather pattern has thrown a bit of a monkey wrench into the fishing scene. Still, if you hit it right, you can have a good catch. This is especially true of panfish. This is a great time to put some filets in the freezer for winter. Panfish filets in the winter are a genuine comfort food in the cold weather. They sort of take you back to summer. If you vacuum seal them, they will taste almost fresh caught.
You know, it’s only about a month until squirrel season opens here in the Keystone State. Of course, getting squirrels will be tough, with the foliage and all. It can be done, however. You have to get them when they are on the ground. Fortunately, they will be spending a good bit of time there, gathering food. I have read that a squirrel call can be effective under these circumstances, provided that you know how to use it, a skill that has eluded me. Of course, the weather is still nice, and that is a big plus, especially for us old geezers.
I know that this is not outdoor related, but I can’t help myself. This is the worst time of the whole year for teachers and students, as the specter of a new school year looms large. Best wishes to those folks.
Finally, we have the photo. I just never get tired of mother possums with babies on their back. Note the little tail around her face.them.
Email: salmonangler1@gmail.com
